[Footnote 11:  This is 16 deg. of longitude beyond the Ladrones, which are in 216 deg. 30’ W. and would consequently give the longitude of Zubut as 232 deg. 30’ W. or 107 deg. 30’ E. from Greenwich.  Yet from what appears afterwards, they seem to have been now among the Philippine islands, the most easterly of which are in long. 126 deg.  E. from Greenwich.—­E.]

They entered the port of Zubut on the 7th April, and on coming near the city all the great guns were fired, which put the inhabitants into great consternation.  This, however, was soon quieted, by the arrival of a messenger at the city from the ships, who assured the king of Zubut that this was an ordinary piece of respect to his dignity, whom they had come to visit on their way to the Moluccas, hearing of his fame from the king of Messana.  The messenger also desired that the Spaniards might be furnished with provisions, in exchange for their commodities.  The king then observed, that it was customary for all ships that came to his port to pay tribute, which custom he expected they would comply with as well as others.  To this the messenger replied, that the Spanish admiral was the servant of so powerful a sovereign, that he could make no such acknowledgment to any prince whatever.  That the admiral was willing to be at peace with him, if he thought proper to accept his friendship:  but if otherwise, he should soon have his fill of war.  A certain Moor, who happened to be present, told the king that these people were certainly the Portuguese, who had conquered Calicut and Malacca, and advised him therefore to beware of provoking them to hostilities; whereupon the king referred the matter to his council, promising to give an answer next day, and in the meantime sent victuals and wine aboard the ships.

The king of Messana, who was a potent prince, went ashore to confer with the king of Zubut, who in the end became almost ready to pay tribute instead of demanding it; but Magellan only asked liberty to trade, which was readily granted.  Magellan persuaded the king and his principal people to become Christians, which they did after some religious conferences, and were all afterwards baptised.  This example spread over the whole island, so that in eight days the whole inhabitants became Christians, except those of one village of idolaters, who absolutely refused.  The Spaniards therefore burnt this village, and erected a cross on its ruins.[12]

[Footnote 12:  This incredible story has been considerably abridged on the present occasion, and is too absurd to merit any commentary.—­E.]

The people of this island deal justly with each other, having the use of weights and measures.  Their houses are of timber, raised high in the air on posts, so that they ascend to them by ladders.  They told us of a certain sea-fowl in this country, called Lughan, about the size of a crow, which the whales sometimes swallow alive, in consequence of which their hearts are eaten by this bird; and many whales are killed in this manner, the bird being afterwards found alive in the carcase of the whale.  The Spaniards drove a most advantageous trade at this place, receiving from the natives ten pesos of gold, of a ducat and a half each, in exchange for fourteen pounds of iron; and procured abundance of provisions for mere trifles.